KNDS today announced the appointment of Nicolas Groult as Chief Executive Officer of KNDS France, effective 5 January 2026. In this role, he will lead all French operations, oversee major programs, industrial sites and the company’s development roadmap in line with the Group’s strategy.
Nicolas Groult brings 25 years of senior management experience in technology-intensive companies across the automotive, railway, and aerospace & defense sectors. He served as CEO of Pandrol since 2023, a global leader in railway infrastructure systems. Prior to that, he spent a decade in various senior leadership positions at Parker Meggitt, most recently heading the Power & Sensing division, where he oversaw critical aerospace and defense systems. Earlier in his career, Nicolas gained extensive expertise in the automotive sector, enhancing his expertise in manufacturing, operational excellence, and international general management with Johnson Controls, Faurecia, and Autoliv.
Jean-Paul Alary, CEO of KNDS Group, said: “Nicolas Groult’s appointment marks a significant milestone for KNDS France. His proven leadership and extensive business development experience will be key assets as we accelerate our initiatives in program management, operational excellence and long-term capability building. With his commitment to developing state-of-the-art solutions that deliver high performance to our customers, Nicolas will guide our French organization through its next phase of sustainable growth. I am confident he will make a decisive contribution to strengthening both KNDS France and the Group as a whole.”
Nicolas Groult brings 25 years of senior management experience in technology-intensive companies across the automotive, railway, and aerospace & defense sectors. He served as CEO of Pandrol since 2023, a global leader in railway infrastructure systems. Prior to that, he spent a decade in various senior leadership positions at Parker Meggitt, most recently heading the Power & Sensing division, where he oversaw critical aerospace and defense systems. Earlier in his career, Nicolas gained extensive expertise in the automotive sector, enhancing his expertise in manufacturing, operational excellence, and international general management with Johnson Controls, Faurecia, and Autoliv.
Jean-Paul Alary, CEO of KNDS Group, said: “Nicolas Groult’s appointment marks a significant milestone for KNDS France. His proven leadership and extensive business development experience will be key assets as we accelerate our initiatives in program management, operational excellence and long-term capability building. With his commitment to developing state-of-the-art solutions that deliver high performance to our customers, Nicolas will guide our French organization through its next phase of sustainable growth. I am confident he will make a decisive contribution to strengthening both KNDS France and the Group as a whole.”
